Florida State news: Greg Reid advises quarterbacks not to throw to his side of the field

Seminoles' sophomore cornerback hopes to be defensive difference-maker Florida State has been lacking.

August 14, 2010|By Andrew Carter, Orlando Sentinel

TALLAHASSEE — Some college football players are equal parts athlete and historian — studying film of those who came before them, learning their moves and habits, mimicking their style on the field. Greg Reid, the sophomore cornerback at Florida State, is not one of those players.

No, he doesn't watch film of how Florida State greats Deion Sanders and Terrell Buckley did things. He doesn't study guys in the NFL. In fact, asked the question, Reid gave a quizzical look and shook his head.

"No, not really, man," he said when asked whether he attempted to model his game after anyone else. "Not really. I'm not a 'past' guy. I don't really look at the past like that. I kind of focus on me and focus on how I should get better.

"I don't relate to nobody else."

Though Reid might not be interested in learning from the best who came before him, others who follow Reid might one day be interested in studying his style. That is, if he's able to reach his considerable potential.

Reid provided glimpses a season ago of what he could do and of the kinds of plays he could make. He led the nation as a freshman in average yards per punt return. He intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown. He didn't start at cornerback, but seemed to provide an energy whenever he entered a game. But all of that is in the past.

And, as Reid said, he's not a "past" guy. Entering the 2010 season, then, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff hope Reid becomes the kind of defensive difference-maker that forces opposing offensive coordinators to alter their game plans.

In practice during the preseason, at least, Reid has been that kind of player.

"You don't really want to throw to his side," Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder said. "He's a guy that covers really well. His instincts are unbelievable. I mean, he'll be making plays where you don't even think he should be where he is. He just comes out of left field and makes a play and it's unbelievable."

Reid, who was among the top high school prospects in the nation in 2008 during his senior season at Lowndes High in Valdosta, Ga., already possesses the confidence of a more accomplished player. Though Florida State practices are closed to the public and media, Reid's voice — loud, excited and passionate — sometimes carries beyond the fence.

He enjoys talking playful trash, even to his teammates. He might do that one moment, and then offer encouragement the next. He wants people to know he's ready to make a play, ready to make a difference. Before Florida State suffered a humiliating defeat at Florida last season, Reid challenged Gators coach Urban Meyer to punt to him.

Now Reid is challenging opposing quarterbacks to throw to his side.

"Just like Jimbo preaches every day — you've got to want it," Reid said. "You've got to have confidence and I just make plays, man. You can't throw an out route, you can't throw a slant, you can't throw a bubble [screen] on my side. You can't do nothing. That's how I see it."

If it sounds cocky, that's because it probably is. Still, Reid seems determined to back up his words during the next three months — to lead what he hopes will be a resurgent Florida State defense.

There are plans, too, for Reid to play offense. Fisher hasn't described exactly how it will work. Whether Reid will be used in a "wildcat" formation and receive direct snaps or whether he'll play receiver or another position.

But yes, Fisher has said Reid will play on offense. First, though, Fisher wants Reid to be better defensively. To become more fundamentally sound at cornerback and to take fewer unnecessary risks.

"The first thing you've got to remember — he hasn't started at corner yet," Fisher said. "So the first thing you've got to do is get his feet settled on defense … every day that little sucker's up there breaking balls up and competing, now."

Indeed, there might not be a player at Florida State who expresses as much love for the game as Reid. Even if he's not all that into studying its past.